TubeNet

I don't post here often, but I do frequently lurk, and I would like to alert the TubeNet readership to the YouTube Symphony's ongoing voting process (and to solicit your vote for my video).

For those who don't know, the YouTube Symphony is (as far as I can tell) the brainchild of Michael Tilson Thomas, and is sponsored by Google. It is essentially the YouTube version of all-region band. Those who wish to enter the competition submit a video of a list of excerpts. There is a preliminary round that is judged by a panel of experts and several videos for each position are selected as finalists. The greater YouTube community is then to vote for their favorite videos (as many videos as you like, one vote/video/day). Note that you don't need a YouTube account to vote. The winners will be flown to Sydney, Australia, for a week in March, culminating in a performance in the Sydney Opera House.

I have been fortunate enough to be chosen as a bass trombone finalist. You can follow the links to my video, and to the general YouTube Symphony page, where you can browse the other categories. Feel free to cast your vote for my video before viewing the others (there are several that are very strong!).

Direct link to my video (user name: mcjohnbone): http://goo.gl/xDB71
YouTube Symphony Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/user/symphony

Are there any other finalists on TubeNet? Please feel free to piggy-back onto this thread!

John McGinness
Bass Trombonist
Delaware Symphony Orchestra
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra

Vote for John!
He is a great guy, and a heck of a bass trombonist!

Good luck buddy,

-Trevor

Vote for YouTube Symphony Competition Tuba

Go to the YouTube Symphony site <http://www.youtube.com/symphony>
Click VOTE.
Then Orchestral Audition.
Then click on the picture of the Tuba.
Each person can be heard by clicking on their picture or on next.

Public voting will end on or about December 17th, 2010.
"Users can view the videos and vote using the creative criteria outlined in the Official Rules. Each user can vote a maximum of once per video, per category, PER DAY during the user voting period.
Michael Tilson Thomas and Mason Bates, for the orchestra auditions and solo improvisations respectively, will then review the potential finalists against the criteria which are set out in rule 7 of the Official Rules, and select the winners, taking into consideration which entries received the most votes."

I noticed the guy that bob was flaming made the finals..

I thought that the 4 tuba auditions all did a pretty good job. There sure is a big difference in the recording qualities. A two have gone for recording in larger room designed for performance with good acoustics whilst the other two look like they've recorded in a small practice room....hence far less depth in their sound.

My preference is the dude on the Eb.

Anyone want to guess a winner?

Thanks, Trevor!

There is some good tuba playing happening, but to me all four are pretty close. Like the bass trombonists (and really, all other other instrumentalists of a certain level), everyone seems to fudge in the same places. As we are our own best teachers, preparing and performing for a mic and camera is something we should all do more often.

For the tubas, I really was impressed with the first and third auditions (both of whom were in larger halls). The third guy ... isaacrodrigueztuba ... almost appeared to be "lip syncing" at first. Perhaps that's just the video quality, but with what seemed to be a laid back posture, an odd position of the tuba on his left leg, and seemingly imperceptible inhales, it just looked like it wasn't real.

That said, I believe it is real and that I need to take some lessons on not trying to "force" the notes! And I really liked his overall sound the best.

Good luck to all!
Chris

The voting ended last night. Thanks for looking/discussing/voting!
The winners will be announced in "early January."

' stipend...??
' transportation/room/board to/from Australia...??

My understanding is that the YouTube people cover flight and accommodations in Sydney, but that meals and incidentals are up to the individual. I found that information in Section 12 of the Official Rules.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid= ... hjNGMxZDY1

For me, in my situation, that's good enough, but I can understand how that wouldn't work for many other young (or old) professionals.

' sounds like a really great opportunity for a group of young people.

Yep!

Voting ended last night at midnight, but anyone could have voted (once/day/video). As far as I know, there wasn't a way to track your votes, but you could track your views. I wound up with about 1100 views, which seemed about average. Most didn't have over 2000 views, although there were two clarinetists with 17000 and 13000! I don't know how views translate to votes, though, since you can vote without watching a video.
Since the voting has ended I am now comfortable saying that I think the voting is going to be fairly symbolic (like in real elections).

From the FAQ's:

This [the voting] will inform the final decision of who will win a chance to perform in the YouTube Symphony Orchestra which rests with the artistic director of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas.

At any rate, best of luck to all the finalists!

The final orchestra has been announced, so I wanted to give y'all an update.
I was not selected, but thanks so much for the views and votes!
The tenor trombones are Roman (from Germany) and Jorge (from Spain), the bass trombonist is Roberto (from Italy), and the tubist is John (from Pittsburgh). I think John is on Tubenet, so "Congrats, John!"
Here is a link to the YTSO page where you can see the entire roster and their videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/symphony

John DiCesare, an Artist Diploma student at Duquesne University and student of Craig Knox, won the YouTube Symphony. Congrats John!

Congrats John! Sounds great. I miss Ft. Knox!